Solar panels 2025 Adventurer 35F?

[Little Beau]

We purchased a 2025 Adventurer 35F. It came with solar panels but I don’t remember the delivery representative at the dealer explaining how the operate. Any help would be great we are getting ready for the maiden voyage back he 1st of May

 

[creativepart]

Have you looked in your Operator’s Manual? It should be detailed there.

In my 2017 Adventurer the Zamp Solar Charge Controller was in the basement compartment in front of the stairs.

But there was/is nothing to do. Just park in the sun.

Does your 2025 Adventurer 35F have the lithium battery package?

 

[Little Beau]

No just the standard NAPA RV marine batteries. Lithium batteries are on my bucket list

 

[Jjcanuck]

So when we purchased our 2025 Vista 29v, the dealer insisted we had solar and even should us a picture of the panel. After 6 months of wondering why it wasn’t working, we found out that the controller was not included and therefore not installed. Finally got the dealer to install a third party controller

 

[creativepart]

we found out that the controller was not included and therefore not installed. Finally got the dealer to install a third party controller

Humm, that’s very odd, because if it came from the factory with a solar panel it most definitely would also have a solar charge controller installed as well. They don’t install one without the other.

Certainly, there could have been an error at the factory or the dealer could be telling you incorrect information- that’s super common unfortunately.

Assuming that you purchased your Vista new it should have come with a solar charge controller. However, if you were the second owner then all bets are off about what the previous owner might have done.

 

[Little Beau]

Where would I find the solar controller on the my Adventurer?

 

[klook]

It would generally be fairly close the the batteries as it cost money to run wire.
Some units now have a consolidated inverter/charger/solar controller.

 

[Little Beau]

Thanks I’ll look there. When I look a my panel I thought it showed the system at 13.6

 

[klook]

13.6 is a lithium float voltage.

 

[Morich]

Being new to a field is always fun. We can make so many mistakes and still have a good excuse! So right now Winnebago has given us a totally new parts sytem to replace one
I had known and loved. So now all of us are just as new as green grass. Maybe time to let you in on some of the points I have learned about this? Likely others may need an intro also?
So do you have a charge controller?
Step by step:
Go here first to get to the correct RV:

Winnebago Cortona Portal

cortona.winnebago.com

Choose the correct Year, model, etc. for your RV to get here:

Winnebago Cortona Portal

cortona.winnebago.com

Go to list at right to choose the main ssytem you want, like electric! You should get this:

Winnebago Cortona Portal

cortona.winnebago.com

In some cases, the next step can be hit or miss if the item you want is like a converter that changes 110AC to 12VDC, so maybe some trial and error until getting to know the beast and methods used?
I chose 12V and clicked "components to go here:

Winnebago Cortona Portal

cortona.winnebago.com

I thought a charge controler sounded like inside or basement so at far left chose "interior"! Next if you know the name like controller, you can scan the list of parts at right to find that as item 71! Click that on the list to bring it up in yellow on the drawing!

Mine brought it up zoomed in way too far, so I used the scroll wheel on mouse to back off far enough to spot it !

Looks like they show it under cabinets that have sink and maybe a cooktop? I'm thinking from the greyed in areas the door may be to the left if we look down from above and from the driver's side? Lots easier if we can know the Rv better than me!
A few controls to jump start the learning!

Keeping it centered is a biggie to know if you want to get down to looking carefully at things like whether it may have a fuse on one end, etc.? Have FOS checked to keep what you have in yellow centered as you zoom in/out or hold the scroll button to swing the view around to see small points like the connections!

But did your dealer order it with feature code 3AA. When shopping RV, it is much like cars in that we need to be aware of some dealers order lots of options while others may sell their lower cost RV with fewer options??
Lots of tricks in any game where money is involved!
Hope this helps when you wonder about lots of other points like where drain may be?
Like most things, practice will help!